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New era excites Owls boss

Brian Laws sees a bright future for Sheffield Wednesday after an emphatic 4-1 win over Charlton.

By Ben Collins

Last Updated: 17/01/09 8:18pm

Manager Brian Laws believes Sheffield Wednesday are set for a bright future under Lee Strafford after seeing his side enjoy an emphatic 4-1 win against Charlton.

The Owls' first win in six league games capped a positive week at Hillsborough in which Strafford became the club's new chairman.

Strafford has quickly set about rebuilding bridges with the Owls supporters and introduced himself on the pitch before kick-off alongside former favourite Chris Waddle.

A new pricing policy helped draw a crowd of 28,766 - Hillsborough's biggest of the season - and the home fans were treated to a wonderful display.

New loan signing Darren Potter and Marcus Tudgay gave Wednesday a 2-0 half-time lead before Francis Jeffers ended his goal drought in the 63rd minute.

Matthew Spring pulled a goal back late on but Tudgay claimed his second goal from the penalty spot in injury-time.

Overnight change

"It's been a fantastic build-up regarding the football club all week with the new chairman coming in and now the whole culture is changing overnight," said Laws.

"It's also been done without any money being spent, just common sense and taking away the blockage that was there previously. All the staff are now smiling and want to turn in every day and enjoy it.

"It was also important that we put in a good performance today for the fantastic crowd, which was just under 30,000.

"Hopefully we can now maintain that level of support for the rest of the season."

Laws was also full of praise for Jeffers after scoring his first goal in 19 matches, with his last goal coming in the 2-1 win over Preston on New Year's Day 2008.

"It's been a year since Franny last scored a goal and that includes a long lay-off," he said.

Confidence

"If a striker doesn't score a goal it does dent their confidence as that is what they thrive on.

"I hope that's the first of many. We've got a good player there and he's one of the best finishers at the club."

Defeat for Charlton leaves them eight points from safety at the foot of the Championship table and manager Phil Parkinson kept his players locked in the dressing room for over half an hour after the game.

Parkinson admitted this is one of his lowest points in management but is determined to drag the Addicks out of danger.

"It's not a case of lifting the players, it was more about telling them a few home truths," he said.

"We were outfought and outplayed in every department. I'll try to stay positive as I know we can perform better than that, but today was simply not good enough.

"Believe me, I'll get up tomorrow and be ready to go again, although that's the most disappointed I've been in my managerial career.

"The people I'm most disappointed for are the supporters who have paid their hard-earned money to come and watch us."